A stunning resurgence marked England’s performance on the opening day of the fourth Test against India in Ranchi this past Friday, scripting a narrative of incredible determination and skill. At the heart of the action was Joe Root, who unfurled his 31st Test century to anchor his team’s recovery, culminating in a formidable total of 302/7 by day’s end.
England’s resolve was put to the test from the very start, particularly after their demoralizing defeat by a massive 434-run margin in the previous Test at Rajkot. With India leading the series 2-1, the touring side was under immense pressure to turn the tide in this pivotal match. Complicating India’s strategy, pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah was side-lined for the game, a decision dictated by workload management concerns. In his stead, Akash Deep was handed his maiden international cap, a moment that would prove to be not just a personal triumph but an enlivening boost for the Indian side.
Making his international debut at 27, Deep took to the JSCA International Stadium Complex with an unshakable composure, directly confronting the English top order. His initial seven-over onslaught would see him claim the crucial scalps of Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, and a well-settled Zak Crawley. These early breakthroughs contributed to a top-order collapse that left England reeling at 112/5 as the teams broke for lunch.
Post-match discourse shifted from the game’s play-by-play to the personal experiences of those who influenced it. Deep, during an interview with the broadcasters, disclosed the advice he received from Bumrah—which ultimately played a pivotal role in shaping his successful debut. According to Deep, Bumrah’s strategic counsel was simple yet effective: by slightly dragging back his length, he could be more lethal on the turning pitch. This guidance paid dividends as he dispatched Pope and Crawley with deliveries that could only be described as exceptional.
“I wasn’t nervous, had spoken with my coaches, so I wasn’t tense ahead of the game,” Deep relayed post-match. His mindset was clear: treat every game as potentially the last and play with unbridled enthusiasm. Despite the initial help he received from the conditions, as the ball softened and the pitch slowed down, the focus remained on maintaining consistency and precision. His only regret of the day—a stray no-ball—highlighted the earnestness with which he approached his debut.
The day may have belonged to England’s tenacious batting, particularly Joe Root’s scintillating century, but amongst the Indian ranks, Akash Deep’s debut had its own sparkle. Recording figures of 3/70 across 17 overs, Deep finished as India’s top-performing bowler of the day, while his teammate Mohammed Siraj contributed with two wickets of his own.
As headlines detailed Root’s historic milestone—becoming the first player to notch double figures in centuries against India—and James Anderson’s achievement of equalling a record without even batting or bowling, Deep’s emergence as a potential new pace asset for India offered a riveting subplot in an already drama-filled Test match.
At the close of play, an eventful day one had set the stage for an engrossing continuance of the Test. A debutant’s dream, a captain’s century, and the quintessential ebb and flow that is the hallmark of Test cricket all combined to create a spectacle befitting the grandeur of the longest format of the game.
